Democratic National Committee apologizes for 'inexcusable remarks'

Demonstrators march in downtown Monday, July 25, 2016, in Philadelphia, during the first day of the Democratic National Convention.
Demonstrators march in downtown Monday, July 25, 2016, in Philadelphia, during the first day of the Democratic National Convention.

3:55 P.M. UPDATE:

The Democratic National Committee is offering its "deep and sincere apology" to Bernie Sanders, his supporters and the entire party for what it calls "the inexcusable remarks made over email."

The statement from incoming interim party leader, Donna Brazile, and six other officials said the comments in the emails "do not reflect the values of the DNC or our steadfast commitment to neutrality during the nominating process."

The statement said the party won't tolerate disrespectful language.

The statement wasn't signed by the outgoing DNC head, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

She announced Sunday that she'd step down from that job at the end of this week's Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

The emails suggested party officials favored Clinton over rival Sanders during the primaries.

Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

EARLIER:

PHILADELPHIA — Hundreds of Bernie Sanders supporters and other demonstrators marched down Philadelphia's sweltering Broad Street on the opening day of the Democratic convention Monday, chanting "Nominate Sanders or lose in November!" and "Hey, hey, ho, ho, the DNC has got to go!"

The growing crowd of about 400 made its way from City Hall toward the convention hall, 4 miles away in south Philadelphia.

Destine Madu, a protester from Maplewood, N.J., said it doesn't matter if Sanders is calling on his backers to support Hillary Clinton.

"He's like a Moses," she said. "He led us to the promised land."

The protests took shape amid a heat wave, with oppressive humidity and temperatures in the mid-90s, along with the possibility of severe thunderstorms in the evening. The Fire Department handed out bottled water, and at least one woman was put in an ambulance by stretcher.

The demonstrators espoused a variety of causes, including economic justice, socialism and marijuana legalization.

Although planned for months, the marches came as fissures widened in the party. Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned Sunday as Democratic Party chairwoman over leaked emails suggesting the supposedly neutral Democratic National Committee played favorites for Clinton during the primaries. The emails angered many Sanders supporters.

About 100 Sanders supporters made their way into Philadelphia by marching across the Ben Franklin Bridge from Camden, N.J. Among them was Jim Glidden, a salesman from Batavia, N.Y. He carried a big sign saying the DNC stands for "Dishonest Nefarious Corrupt."

"Only one guy is telling the truth out there," he said, referring to Sanders. "And the DNC shut him up with lies and cheating."

Another participant in the bridge march, Deborah Armstrong, of Spokane, Wash., said she and her husband went bankrupt because of his health problems, which required a heart transplant.

"I'm Bernie or bust," she said. "I'm not going to have Trump held up to our head like a gun."

Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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